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While Boston is well-known for its role in the American Revolution, there is a lot more to this small city than than its history. From alternative and inventive to artsy and foodie, Boston buzzes with incredibly local culture – well-loved by its residents but often overlooked by visitors. The unexpected spots in this guide provide a sampling of the city's best offerings.

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

Nightlife Seeker

Foodie

Trendsetter

Like a Local

11 Places

6 City Tips

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Map

11 Places

Wally's Cafe

Jazz Clubs & Bars

Minuteman Trail Bikeway

Historic Walking Areas, Biking Trails

Somerville Theatre

Theaters

SoWa Artists Guild

Art Galleries

Berklee College of Music

Educational sites

Neighborhood Restaurant

Restaurants

City Feed and Supply

Restaurants

Cambridge Brewing Company

Restaurants

Middlesex lounge

Restaurants

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Parks, Islands

Out Of Town News

Points of Interest & Landmarks

Wally's Cafe

427 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118-3536

Minuteman Trail Bikeway

MA

Somerville Theatre

55 Davis Sq, Somerville, MA 02144-2908

SoWa Artists Guild

450 Harrison Ave, C, Boston, MA 02118-2400

Berklee College of Music

Boston, MA

Neighborhood Restaurant

25 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143-2933

City Feed and Supply

672 Centre St, Boston, MA 02130-2507

Cambridge Brewing Company

1 Kendall Sq, Building 100, Cambridge, MA 02139-1562

Middlesex lounge

315 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139-4151

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

191W Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110-3719

Out Of Town News

0 Harvard Sq, Cambridge, MA 02138-3844

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Wally's Cafe

Jazz Clubs & Bars

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Minuteman Trail Bikeway

Historic Walking Areas, Biking Trails

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Somerville Theatre

Theaters

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SoWa Artists Guild

Art Galleries

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Berklee College of Music

Educational sites

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Neighborhood Restaurant

Restaurants

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City Feed and Supply

Restaurants

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Cambridge Brewing Company

Restaurants

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Middlesex lounge

Restaurants

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Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area

National Parks, Islands

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Out Of Town News

Points of Interest & Landmarks

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marikomarovsky's City Tips

Boston's subway ("The T"), trolley, and bus system all operate on the same pass. You can load money on a card, or get a daily or weekly pass.

You can buy a paper pass for The T from machines at any station, but if you see an operator, ask him/her for a Charlie Card. Loading money on this card is much cheaper!

As a rule, Bostonians tend to dress pretty casually. Men may be required to wear dress shoes and nice jeans to get into some night spots in Boston, but anything goes in Cambridge.

Ride-sharing apps Uber and Lyft are very popular, and cover some city cabs. However, it may be easier and quicker to hail cabs on the street.

The subway closes at 12.30 am on weekdays, and 3 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tip 15% at a restaurant, and $1 per drink at a bar.

Wally's Cafe

Jazz Clubs & Bars

marikomarovsky Says:

Although I've visited this wonderful jazz club many, many times, I still sometimes miss it when walking down the street. A narrow, unassuming entrance on a residential block takes you into an equally narrow, long interior, packed with regulars moving, drinking, and socializing to the energetic tunes of a nightly jazz band playing at the very back.

Good for

Thrifty Traveler

Hidden Gems

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Art and Architecture Lover

Nightlife Seeker

Tips

If you manage to snag a table, be prepared to share, and chat with your tablemates – while it's unusual for the East Coast, it's all part of the experience.

Spend at least some time in the back watching the band play. They look as amazing as they sound.

Opt for beer or wine. This simple place is no-frills, and cocktails are not its forte.

According to the calendar, music is from 9:30 pm - 2 am, but it's really more like 10 pm - 1 am - be sure to stop in during the latter times so you don't miss out!

For late-night eats after Wally's, head to Anchovies - the eatery is located just a few blocks up Columbus Ave and is open until 2 am.

The Minuteman Trail is a converted railway which now serves as a 10-mile park for biking, skating, running, and walking. It's a beautiful way to get out of the city center, do something active, and people-watch during your visit.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

History Buff

Thrifty Traveler

Nature Lover

Tips

You don't need to do the whole route. You can stop in the cute town centers of Lexington or Arlington (both in the middle) for ice cream, lunch, or to catch a bus back to the city.

If you want to rent a bike, check out Bicycle Exchange in Somerville, Urban Adventours downtown, or the city bike-sharing program, Hubway.

Biking is a fun way to see the trail. Bikes are allowed on the red, orange, and blue lines of The T (subway) all day on weekends and during off-peak hours on weekdays.

The trail starts in North Cambridge at Alewife Station (accessible via the red line) and ends in Bedford (accessible via bus).

Set in trendy Davis Square, the Somerville Theater was originally designed for opera, vaudeville, and film screenings in the early 1900s. Today, it's a multi-purpose venue for first-run movies, independent film festivals, dance, music, and comedy.

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Tips

On the website, check the "Movies" tab for first-run films, and the "Events" tab for film festivals and live shows.

The theater serves New England-local Brigham's ice cream. For an alternate ice cream stop, check out Boston's own JP Licks ice cream shop across the street. You can't go wrong.

Around the corner, Redbones is a well-loved Southern barbecue joint that is also known for its extensive selection of craft beers on draft.

The SoWa Artists Guild is an association of studio artists with a collection of art galleries in Boston's South End. Every Sunday from May through November, the association hosts a giant market with four parts: an open-air lot of art stalls, a lot for food trucks, a historic space set up as an antique market, and a block of artists' studios open to the public. Throughout the year, more than 60 artist studios also open to the public the first Friday evening of each month.

Good for

Foodie

Trendsetter

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Shopping Fanatic

Art and Architecture Lover

Tips

To get here, take the SL5, the silver line (which is technically part of the subway system, but actually a bus), or walk from Tufts Medical Center or Mass Ave Station.

Boston is lucky to be home to the Berklee College of Music, the world's largest independent school of contemporary music. This means that during the academic year, the college hosts a diverse program of daytime and evening performances each day, given both by its talented students and visiting artists.

Good for

Art and Architecture Lover

Hidden Gems

Tips

Go to the "Events" page on Berklee's website to see scheduled performances for all 6 venues, all unique and with capacities ranging from 118 to 1,215 audience members.

This Portuguese-American, family-owned spot has to be one of the best brunch experiences in the city. There is always a line on weekends, but you can help yourself to free pastries and coffee (or check out hip Union Square!) while you wait. Neighborhood serves up generous portions of hearty, inventive, and flavorful food, and the family service is welcoming and efficient. Bonus: Sitting out on the colorful terrace in the summer is a pleasure.

Good for

Foodie

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Tips

If you're hungry, I definitely recommend the breakfast specials. It's a lot more food for a couple more dollars, and they usually have some unique items!

Union Square is literally off the beaten path because it has no subway stop. Take the 87 bus from Davis or Lechemere stations, or walk for 25 minutes from Porter Square.

Neighborhood serves breakfast and lunch only.

In the neighborhood, check out hipster cafe Bloc 11 – it's housed in an old bank building, and one of its several rooms still has the door of an old safe!

If you stick around for the evening, find your way to speakeasy Backbar. Its entrance is appropriately located in an alley, so you may have to ask around.

For a real community feel, head to City Feed and Supply in Jamaica Plain. This is a combination grocery store and cafe that specializes in natural and local foods. The Centre Street location is a perfect starting point for exploring Jamaica Plain, a diverse family neighborhood.

Good for

Foodie

Shopping Fanatic

Like a Local

Tips

During the summer, grab a picnic lunch and head over to nearby Jamaica Pond to enjoy the weather and people-watching.

Amble down Centre Street, and poke into any place that looks interesting. You'll find many unique thrift shops, bookshops, and cafes.

Cambridge and Somerville, an easy walk or 'T' ride across the river from Boston, are known to be somewhat snobby about their beer. To meet customer demand, many bars have a variety of IPAs, Belgians, dark ales, and craft beers on tap, including brews from nearby Vermont and Maine. But Cambridge Brewing Company keeps things local. The microbrewery has been turning out craft brews and seasonal New England grub since 1989, and is known for its funky experimentation. Case in point: My favorite CBC try was a beer and sake hybrid. Beers rotate out seasonally, but no matter when you visit you can expect other innovate drafts, like beer with notes of roasted jalapeños, green tea, or butternut squash.

Good for

Foodie

Trendsetter

Like a Local

Solo

Friends

Couples

Senior

Nightlife Seeker

Tips

Located in Kendall Square, this spot is deceptively not at Kendall Square station – it's a 10-minute walk up Broadway Street.

While CBC also happens to serve great food, there are a number of fun alternative options nearby. Try Friendly Toast (breakfast all day) or State Park (campground theme).

For a night of dancing, skip the club district and head to Middlesex Lounge in Cambridge. The layout is simple: a relatively small, square room. The music: a perfect mix of favorite dance tunes and funky DJ mixes – think pop and '90s, with smooth transitions between variations on favorite songs. The crowd: just plain fun.

Good for

Solo

Friends

Couples

Trendsetter

Nightlife Seeker

Like a Local

Tips

Try to get here before 10:30 pm to avoid a line.

The dress code is completely flexible: You will see some guests dressed up for a night out, and others who look like they just came from working on a thesis in the library.

One thing that even locals take for granted is how easy and inexpensive it is to get out on the water. Take a ferry to Boston Harbor Islands to enjoy a 20-40 minute ferry ride (depending on which island you visit), along with beautiful views of the skyline and a chance to picnic or relax on the beach.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Nature Lover

Tips

Georges and Spectacle Island are the most popular, and you can see both in one day with one round-trip ticket.

You can buy tickets right at the ferry, but check schedules online ahead of time.

Smack in the middle of Harvard Square and right next to 'The T' station, Out of Town News is an iconic site and may just be the most common meeting point for connecting with friends in the Square. But you also need to spend some time inside – this typical-looking news-stand sells foreign magazines and newspapers from all over the world.

Good for

Peace and Quiet Seeker

Hidden Gems

Like a Local

Tips

Take your reading to a local cafe: Try Pamplona (the oldest cafe in Harvard Square), Clover (which started as a food truck), or cozy Crema (with a loft-style interior).

For more foreign language reading, head to Schoenhof's, a independent foreign book store.